Selma Blair’s Defense Team Reveals What Went Wrong Before Midflight Rampage

Actress Selma Blair pleaded not guilty Monday night to two assault charges as her attorneys blamed missed medication, exhaustion, and a fall for her bizarre and violent behavior during and after a Delta Air Lines flight.

Defense attorneys Shawn Barnes and Joshua Reitzas flanked the actress as she appeared in court, clearly emotional throughout the proceedings. Barnes and Reitzas asserted that Blair, who has multiple sclerosis, had missed multiple doses of her medication and had been on set working long hours before Sunday’s flight.

“Ms. Blair missed several doses of … a powerful medication that controls severe neurological symptoms,” Barnes said, adding, “Ms. Blair boarded this flight after being on set and working extensive hours and exhaustive hours in the days leading up to this flight. Additionally, at one point, during the flight, there was an incident where Miss Blair actually fell and hit her head.”

“These factors coupled with the altitude, resulted in a state of severe confusion and disorientation,” Barnes said. “This was not an intentional assault.”

Reitzas also urged the judge to consider Blair’s reputation and work, claiming that she was the “gold standard.”

“Consider her body of work and what she’s done for people,” Reitzas said. “This is someone we should look up to.”

Judge Indira Khan pushed back, saying that Blair’s celebrity should not carry any weight in the matter at hand.

Blair, 54, is charged with two counts of second-degree assault against a Port Authority police officer and a nurse. Judge Khan set the “Legally Blonde” actress’s bail at $20,000 cash, $60,000 bond, or a $60,000 partially secured bond, Page Six reported.

According to the criminal complaint, while Blair was being transported from the airport to the hospital in police custody, she freed one leg from the stretcher restraints and kicked a Port Authority police officer several times in the face, neck, and chest. She also allegedly kicked a nurse in the chest while the nurse was assisting with her treatment at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center.

Separately, the FBI has issued Blair a federal summons accusing her of assault aboard the aircraft, where she allegedly attacked two flight attendants, biting at least one of them, according to law enforcement sources cited by TMZ. The violation notice lists “assaults within special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States.” The matter will be handled in federal petty violations court in Brooklyn.